Research Interests

My primary research interests involve understanding the connections between neoliberal welfare state restructuring and the increased surveillance of those living on social assistance. Specifically, I am interested in investigating the class, gender and racialized consequences of welfare surveillance administered by social assistance in Ontario (Ontario Works). More broadly, the research draws from a number of theoretical and methodological frameworks informed by: Feminist Political Economy, Antiracist Feminism, Welfare Surveillance, Social Movements, Anti Oppression, Reflexive Ethnography, and Participant Action Based Research.

Doctoral Research

For my dissertation I will explore the uncharted relationship between Ontario Works (OW) and surveillance and its effects on recipients, service providers and community advocacy groups. I recently completed 35 qualitative in-depth, open ended interviews in three different locations in Ontario. I interviewed single mothers on OW, anti-poverty activists, advocates and front line workers, as well as OW caseworkers. This project builds upon my Master’s thesis, ‘Guilty Until Proven Eligible: Welfare Surveillance of Single Mothers in Ontario’ (2009), which analysed and documented OW policy, legislation and regulations uncovering eight surveillance practices administered by OW.